§ 46. Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Britain is providing through the aid programme to help with wildlife conservation in Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerBritain has long been helping African Governments with their wildlife conservation efforts, and we are always ready to consider new requests for help. I have placed a list of recent and continuing activities in the Library of the House.
§ Miss WiddecombeFollowing the recently imposed ban on the international ivory trade, have the Government any intention of helping specifically with elephant conservation in east Africa?
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have been providing help to the Kenya wildlife department for many years, and expect to continue to do so. Following a request from the Tanzanian Government, we are about to appoint consultants to look at possible ways of helping that country with its conservation efforts. We shall look at all the ways in which we can reasonably help with conservation.
§ Mr. Tony BanksThe Government are not doing enough. Will the Minister commend President Arap Moi for destroying millions of dollars worth of ivory which was confiscated from poachers? Will she give an undertaking that Governments such as the Kenyan Government and others that wish, and are willing, to destroy poached ivory stocks will be fully compensated by the British Government? That is what the people of this country want.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe hon. Gentleman takes the issue further than many in the House and country would do. Of course, President Moi gave the world an important signal about poached ivory stocks. It is also important that we should help African countries to conserve and preserve their elephant stocks. However, we must eliminate ivory poaching. That is why we have long been engaged in helping countries that have an active programme against poaching, and we shall continue to do so.